Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Join Hester Young, a former Lexington resident, as she reads
from her new book, The Shimmering Road. Her character, Charlotte 'Charlie'
Cates, has been having strange visions again, dreams where children plead for
help. In her panic, Charlie can't tell what is real and what is her
anxiety?

As she tries to decipher her visions, she learns about the
mother who abandoned her as a toddler and of her mother's fate in a double
murder. The other victim is family she never knew she had: her mother's
half-sister. Charlie pieces together her visions, realizing the little girl who
appeared in her dreams is her orphaned niece. Charlie heads to Arizona to help
her, but gets caught in her own troubling revelations along the way.

That extra set of eyes gives buyers peace of mind that
a new house won’t have a leaky roof or cracked foundation. Or something even
worse. But what you might not realize is that countless conundrums go
unnoticed during a home inspection simply because the inspector doesn’t
look for them.

And those undetected flaws could add up to
expensive repairs.

Here’s the deal: Home inspectors aren’t regulated by federal
guidelines. Each state has its own licensing and/or certification requirements.
They vary from Texas, which requires 130 classroom hours of
real estate inspection training, to Georgia, which requires
an inspector have a business license and a letter of recommendation—and
little else.

That means home buyers have to do their own homework to make
sure they’re working with a reputable and thorough inspector. Make sure to
verify an inspector’s references and ask to review the checklist of items
covered during an inspection.

If you’re buying a home for the first time, you’re probably
swooning over the idea of having your own washer/dryer or dishwasher. And to
make sure your new BFF won’t break—and break your heart—an inspector should run
these kind of appliances to check for functionality and leaks.

But inspectors don’t always go over all the bells and
whistles on appliances.

“Checking the water dispenser for issues on a fridge isn’t
standard,” says Tom Kraeutler, a former home inspector, author of “My
Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure,” and a
syndicated radio host.

That oversight could mean you walk into a flooded kitchen if
the seal on the water dispenser is faulty or the ice machine springs a leak.

Leaky faucets

To put a home’s plumbing through its paces, all faucets
should be turned on; toilets should be flushed multiple times; and drain
pipes—even if they’re under the house—checked for leaks while the water is
running.

When it comes to sinks, the faucets need to be run long
enough to fill them before draining in order to spot a leaky pipe or drain.
In the shower, an inspector will need to block the drain pan with a
washcloth or rubber jar opener and fill the shower to the top of the “pan” or
floor, The water should sit for 15 to 20 minutes to test for leaks in the
drain, Kraeutler says.

“That also helps spot if the shower pan is faulty, which is
a super-expensive fix,” he says.

Another thing: Leaky shower tiles happen when gaps form in
the tile grout or caulk. And they show up only when wet. To simulate showering,
the inspector needs to splash his hands under the water and check the
integrity of grout and caulk.

Cracked sewage and drainage pipes

Home inspections are always limited to what is visible and
accessible, Kraeutler says. So cracks in underground or buried pipes and drain
lines will be checked only if your inspector conducts a camera inspection.

That in-depth look into your drain will cost you extra. But
the additional few hundred dollars are a drop in the bucket compared to the
thousands you’ll shell out repairing or replacing faulty sewage and drainage
pipes.

Corroded central air conditioning

Did you know that air-conditioning units can’t be
tested in certain temperatures?

It has to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit outside in order
to run a unit—temperatures lower than that can cause damage to the air
conditioner, Kraeutler says. That means inspections done in cool
temperatures could have an inspector ignoring the AC altogether.

So if it’s too cold to run the unit, ask your inspector how
he looks for potential problems. You’ll want to make sure the
inspector examines all connections and looks for signs of damage.

And, if the temperature is 55 or higher, make sure the AC is
run for several hours to test the functioning of the unit’s condenser coil.

“We’ve had customers notice condensation or water
seeping through the walls in a few hours [of turning on the air
conditioner] or overnight,” Hawkins says. “And unless the AC is run for several
hours, that’s something a home inspector would be hard pressed to see during
his run-through.”

Dangerous DIY improvements

It might be tempting to spruce up your home with some DIY
projects before putting it on the market. But if those home improvements are
completed with low-quality materials or not installed properly, a buyer could
face an exorbitant—and unexpected—renovation.

A DIY renovation could be dangerous, too. If a basement or
attic is finished without proper permits, electrical and plumbing work might
not be up to code. And that could mean potential damage—or even danger—to the
residents.

Although many home inspectors check for construction permits
with the local municipality, Kraeutler suggests verifying that step isn’t
overlooked.

Damp porches, decks, and balconies

“A deck or balcony
can also have serious safety issues and be at risk of collapse,” he says.

Asking your inspector about cracks, rusted flashing, and
soft areas around drains can help keep water from seeping into your home.

One final tip: Most home inspections are performed at
least two months before closing. A lot can change in that time—especially
if a house is vacant, Kraeutler says. Consider having a follow-up
inspection the day of (or no earlier than the day before) closing to ensure
you’re not purchasing a money pit.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Join friends and family of Quinn Amsler at the first annual
“Win for Quinn” Basketball Fundraiser on Friday, February 10, 2017 at the
Lexington High School for a great cause!

Quinn Amsler was an avid basketball fan and played for the
Middlesex Magic and Boston Warrior basketball teams, which he thoroughly
enjoyed. He was also a member of the Boston College Men's basketball team
through the non-profit Team Impact. Quinn’s two older brothers Will and Jack
will be playing for LHS with their proud LHS teams at the fundraiser!

Quinn was diagnosed at the young age of 8 years old with
alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in April, 2015 and courageously battled this cancer
with resilience and strength. He received exceptional care during this last
year from so many doctors, nurses, and medical care providers at The Children's
Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute/The Jimmy Fund Clinic, and Spaulding
Rehabilitation Hospital.

Please join us at the fundraiser, to show your support for
the Amsler family and The Quinn Amsler Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute.

However, did you realize that a cluttered Lexington home
could also cost you money? Whether it’s a lost bill you forgot to pay, or spoiled
food that you wasted money on, clutter is no friend to your bank account.

1. If you have clutter in your home office, or wherever you
keep papers and mail, you could lose paper and spend time and money on
duplicates. If you misplace bills, you’ll be charged late fees and your bad
credit will cause higher interest rates. If you miss tax deadlines, you are
charged penalties.

2. If your closets are disorganized, missing or forgotten
clothes could mean money spent on duplicate items. A cluttered, knotted mess of
accessories means wasted money, because you can’t find what you’re looking for
or don’t wear them because of the hassle!

3. Disorganization in the kitchen means a more probable chance
of food expiring, which is wasted money, and you’ll have to buy new food sooner.
A cluttered pantry means you can’t see what you have, so you might end up with
duplicates. Crammed cabinets means you are overspending on dishes and gadgets.

4. A cluttered living room means lost keys or wallet, which
could make you late to work and means loss of cash. If you can’t fully relax in
your Lexington home, because of the clutter, you’ll spend more money to have
fun outside of the home. Blocked ventilation means increased energy costs.

For more details on how clutter is causing you to spend
more, check out the HouseLogic article in its entirety.

Hopefully now, you see the importance of decluttering your
Lexington home from a new angle! It’ll help you sell your Lexington home, it
could make your life happier and healthier, and it could save you money.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Lexington Recreation & Community Programs, Lexington
Education Foundation and the Academy of Creative Arts are excited to invite children
ages 5-14 and adults to a complimentary Re-Energizing Afternoon!

UNPLUG! A Re-Energizing Family Afternoon!Celebrate creativity and well-being together with painting, meditation and yoga.

Saturday, February 4

2:30 - 4:30pm

Lexington Community Center

FREE advance sign-up enters you to win a gift certificate
from Catch A Falling Star!

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As a real estate agent in the Lexington, MA area, I have the privilege of living and working in this amazing area. Each week, you can count on me for market updates, local events and what's happening in the area!

Please contact me if you have any questions about buying, selling or the Lexington, MA area. I am here to help!

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Many of the Greater Boston suburbs represent some of Massachusetts' most desirable living environments, blending remnants of picturesque farmland and sprawling open spaces with truly elegant estates and charming neighborhoods.
Regardless of where you settle in Boston’s attractive suburbs, you can look forward to an exceptional quality of life in one of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan centers.